Billboards around Chicago promise ten years in prison for purchasing a gun for someone else. It’s the ‘don’t lie for the other guy’ campaign. They appeared all over the city… almost overnight. In Wrigleyville, they are right next to cheeky beer slogans for baseball season. It’s a weird this-bud-is-for-you-but-that-gun-isn’t vibe. Playfulness meets darkness.
The rally against gun violence extends to public places. Businesses -including my organization National Runaway Safeline – are featuring an anti-gun sticker on their door. The no-guns-allowed imagery is to discourage people from entering a building with a gun. The message is both subtle and startling.
Are the 2000s in Chicago the new wild west? Are there an increase in disputes settled over gunfire?
CNN is airing a new series called “Chicagoland.” I saw the premiere episode last night. The documentary-style program looks at Chicago from key influencers. It shows how leadership is shaping Chicago. The inaugural show focused on Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Chief of Police Garry McCarthy and Principal Elizabeth Dozier. The multiple angled perspective provides the breadth and depth of the violence problem. The Mayor shuts down 50 Chicago Public Schools. McCarthy pushes his squads to proactively go after the bad guys. And Dozier transforms Fenger High School to focus on peaceful conflict resolution. The show is both overwhelming and powerful.
I live in a condo high-rise. I slept soundly last night. I don’t worry my home will be riddled by the gunfire of a drive-by-shooting. I do have an active imagination so I occasionally fret that our door guy will be shot and the building attacked. I draw some comfort from being on the 20th floor and being fairly scrappy if something goes down.
Still, I could be shot anywhere. I’ve texted during movie previews. I’ll go to the post office to buy stamps. I ride public transportation. The violence is out there. Our kids are growing up in it. The first episode of “Chicagoland” was filmed in May 2013. At various times during that show, people talked about how warm weather kicked off the violent season. After watching the show, it was the first time in a long time I didn’t hate on the never-ending Winter 2014. It may be making people cranky. It’s also keeping them safe.